Abstract
Continuous cropping of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus L.) can lead to reduced yield and quality. We aimed to determine the effects of cattle manure addition and rotation with green garlic to improve yield and reduce disease incidence in watermelon and to examine the effects on the biological and chemical characteristics of the soil. Field experiments were performed during 2012–2014 on land previously under two years of continuous watermelon cropping in northwest China. We examined three treatment combinations: watermelon and garlic rotation, cattle manure application before watermelon planting, and combined cattle manure addition and crop rotation. Watermelon monoculture was retained as a control. Watermelon yield was significantly higher and disease incidence was lower in the treatments than the control. The populations of soil bacteria and actinomycetes and the bacteria/fungi ratio increased significantly and soil enzyme activities were generally enhanced under treatments. Available nutrients and soil organic matter contents were much higher under experimental treatments than the control. Results suggest both cattle manure application and garlic rotation can ameliorate the negative effects of continuous cropping. The combined treatment of cattle manure addition and green garlic rotation was optimal to increase yield, reduce disease incidence and enhance soil quality.
Highlights
Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus L.) is one of the most important summer fruits, and it is widely cultivated around the world
This paper reports the effects of cattle manure addition and rotation with green garlic on watermelon yield and Fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum) susceptibility, as well as soil health as measured by biological and chemical properties
In the third trial year, cattle manure application and rotation with garlic resulted in watermelon yields of 9,445 (W/G) to 13,441 (W/G+CM) kg ha−1, which were 67% and 138% greater than those of the control plots, respectively
Summary
Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus L.) is one of the most important summer fruits, and it is widely cultivated around the world. Watermelon crops, under long-term continuous monoculture, can develop serious problems, such as low seed germination rates, high seedling mortality, stunted plant growth, leaf yellowing, morbidity, blight, leading to low fruit yield and quality [1]. The main causes of these problems with continuous watermelon cropping result. Cattle Manure and Garlic Rotation Enhance Watermelon Cultivated Soil from changes in the soil, within the crop rhizosphere. Soil deterioration can have a negative feedback effect on the growth of the plants [3], which threatens the sustainable production of watermelon. Restoring soil health is critical to solving the problems associated with continuous watermelon cultivation
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